High-security guard rail system

ABSTRACT

An ultra-high security guard rail system, particularly for use around buildings, works of art, public places, and so forth, includes coverings to disguise and/or beautify the barrier system. In terms of a typical construction, the system includes a plurality of vertical metal pipes, with a portion of each pipe being buried one or more feet below the ground surface, and a portion of the pipe remains exposed above ground. One or more horizontal metal pipes are interconnected to the vertical metal pipes. In the preferred embodiment, the pipes are made of steel, and one or more of the pipes may be filled with a fortifying material, such as cement. A cover may be provided to visually obscure the pipes. Such a cover may give the appearance of brick, cinder block, stone or wood. In addition, the system may include a floral decorative element.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Serial No. 60/377,190, filed Apr. 30, 2002, the entirecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention related generally to guard rails and, inparticular, to a high-security guard rail system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Since the Sep. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center andPentagon, there has been significant interest in providing enhancedsecurity around buildings and public places. One need is for barriersaround buildings and other structures to prevent trucks and othervehicles, perhaps carrying explosives, or just intent upon inflictingdamage, from crashing into walls, and so forth. In addition to a needfor high-strength barriers of this kind, at the same time, suchstructures should not be visually offensive, and indeed, it would bebeneficial if such barriers were aesthetically appealing, blending intothe environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] This invention resides in an ultra-high security guard railsystem, particularly for use around buildings, works of art, publicplaces, and so forth, and wherein, in certain embodiments, includescoverings to disguise and/or beautify the barrier system. In terms of atypical construction, the system includes a plurality of vertical metalpipes, with a portion of each pipe being buried one or more feet belowthe ground surface, and a portion of the pipe remains exposed aboveground. One or more horizontal metal pipes are interconnected to thevertical metal pipes.

[0005] In the preferred embodiment, the pipes are made of steel, and oneor more of the pipes may be filled with a fortifying material, such ascement. A cover may be provided to visually obscure the pipes. Such acover may give the appearance of brick, cinder block, stone or wood. Inaddition, the system may include a floral decorative element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0007]FIG. 2 shows the way in which the vertical members are set intothe ground;

[0008]FIG. 3 shows an outer cover showing a brick or cinderblock-design;

[0009]FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention,including a cover giving the appearance of a cobblestone wall;

[0010]FIG. 5 shows yet a further alternative wherein the cover providesan appearance of wood; and

[0011]FIG. 6 illustrates how coverings may also be combined with afloral design, whether artificial or natural.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012]FIG. 1 is a drawing of a preferred guard rail system according tothe invention, including a plurality of vertical tubular (i.e., steel)members, interconnected by one or more horizontal members alsopreferably constructed of tubular steel. The pipes may, or may not, befilled with other strengthening materials, including cement.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a photograph of the way in which the vertical membersare set into the ground. Preferably, the members are sunken several feetinto the Earth, preferably at least past the frost line, and surroundedand filled in with cement or concrete, as shown in FIG. 1. To enhancesecurity, reinforcing elements or “re-rods” are used, as shown in FIG.2.

[0014] While the barrier shown in FIG. 1, in conjunction with the methodof installation are considered to be inventive, this invention furtherprovides various coverings to disguise and/or beautify the underlyingstructure. FIG. 3, for example, shows an outer cover showing a brick orcinder block-design. Such a structure could either be integrally formed,or molded in pieces and attached. Different ways of holding the coveronto the guard rail structure may be used, including nuts and bolts,screws, self-tapping threaded fasteners, and so forth.

[0015]FIG. 4 shows a different alternative, including a cover giving theappearance of a cobblestone wall. FIG. 5 shows yet a further alternativewherein the cover provides an appearance of wood.

[0016] The various covers according to the invention are preferablyconstructed from a durable polymeric material, such as polyethylene,polypropylene, PVC, ABS, vinyl, and the like to resist weather whileforegoing the need for painting. The coverings may also be combined witha floral design, whether artificial or natural, as shown in FIG. 6.Although FIG. 6 shows a cobblestone design with flower bed row along itstop, any one of the various cover embodiments disclosed herein make useof artificial or natural floral arrangements.

I claim:
 1. An ultra high-security guard rail system, comprising: aplurality of vertical metal pipes, wherein a portion of the pipe isburied one or more feet below the ground surface, and a portion of thepipe remains exposed above ground; and one or more horizontal metalpipes interconnected to the vertical metal pipes.
 2. The ultrahigh-security guard rail system of claim 1, wherein one or more of thepipes are filled with cement.
 3. The ultra high-security guard railsystem of claim 1, wherein the metal pipes are steel.
 4. The ultrahigh-security guard rail system of claim 1, further including a cover tovisually obscure the pipes.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the covergives the appearance of brick.
 6. The system of claim 4, wherein thecover gives the appearance of cinder block.
 7. The system of claim 4,wherein the cover gives the appearance of stone.
 8. The system of claim4, wherein the cover gives the appearance of wood.
 9. The system ofclaim 4, further including a floral decorative element.
 10. The systemof claim 9, wherein the floral decorative element is natural.
 11. Thesystem of claim 9, wherein the floral decorative element is artificial.